Role of 19th-century rotational slash-and-burn cultivation in the development of boreal forests in southern Estonia and implications for forest management

Abstract

Abstract Slash-and-burn cultivation has been a widespread practice in Northern Europe and large portions of modern forests have developed on former slash-and-burn land. After the decline of slash-and-burn sites, forests regenerated. The aim of the present study was to compare the environmental factors and forest ground vegetation of former rotational slash-and-burn sites and continuous forest land to determine the effects of different land-use history and discuss the results in the context of conservation management. The study was based on analyses of vegetation and environmental factors of different areas, which had been mapped as slash-and-burn land and forests during the 19th century. The results demonstrated that the differences in ground vegetation between slash-and-burn sites and continuous forests are small and up to 5.2% of vegetation variability can be explained by different land use during the 19th century. There were no differences in soil characteristics among sites. The differences in vegetation could be connected to 20th century developments as sections of former slash-and-burn sites were utilised as open fields during the opening decades of the 20th century. In terms of conservation management, forests in former slash-and-burn sites must be considered as well-restored post-agricultural forests without specific features or requirements for management.